Thread

Does Reddit have an astroturfing problem? What the data suggests

312 points · 408 comments · p-s-v

PyWoody · 1790603374 · focus · HN ↗
I gave up on any product related reviews on Reddit a decade ago. It can still be useful for guides that may describe what type of products you should look into, e.g., woodworking tools, skincare, etc.
For product reviews, I've been using GearLab (<a href="https://www.techgearlab.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.techgearlab.com/) for years with pretty reliable results. I have no affiliation with them.
1. close04 · 1790603615 · focus · HN ↗
  > For product reviews, I've been using GearLab (<a href="https://www.techgearlab.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.techgearlab.com/) for years with pretty reliable results. I have no affiliation with them.
  Why would you assume any website is immune to this problem of bots and fake or paid reviews? Bots are so cheap now and smart enough to pass as realistic humans.
  Even with good intentions, money runs out eventually (they say no ads and no sponsored content) and someone with deep pockets will exploit this.
  Eventually everyone will just have to implement the foolproof solution of putting in the rules that saying that their website has a problem is "a semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills" and be done with it.
  1. PyWoody · 1790603793 · focus · HN ↗
    Because they are not a review aggregator? They purchase the products themselves, do extensive testing, and then publish their results. You can find more about their process on their About page here: <a href="https://www.techgearlab.com/about" rel="nofollow">https://www.techgearlab.com/about.
    groundzeros2015 · 1790604972 · focus · HN ↗
    Why are you answering questions for this site and pointing to their official material?
    rafram · 1790605181 · focus · HN ↗
    Presumably because it's a good site and the qualms people are expressing with it here have no basis in reality.

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